Automation installation

ABSTRACT

Information available in an automation installation can be accessed via the automation installation by a computer that is coupled to the automation installation. The computer can access, via an interface, a search machine stored in the automation installation. The search machine selects the information available in the automation installation according to at least one criterion defined by an alphanumeric character string.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on and hereby claims priority to GermanApplication No. 100 48 743.2 filed on Sep. 29, 2000, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an automation installationhaving an interface which a computer coupled to the automationinstallation can use to retrieve information about the automationinstallation which is available in the automation installation.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Such automation installations are already known. By way ofexample, reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,805,442 and 6,061,603.

[0006] When accessing the information available in the automationinstallation, it is often necessary to access particular informationspecifically. It must therefore be possible to select which informationwill be accessed. However, it is not known beforehand which data need tobe accessed. In particular, a situation can even arise in which a useron the connected computer does not even know how the automationinstallation which he is accessing is configured, or other such matters.It is therefore necessary to provide the user with a simple way ofaccessing the information available in the automation installation, soto speak in a tailor-made manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide the user withsuch an opportunity. In particular, the intention is also to allow himto select the information according to his wishes.

[0008] This object is achieved by virtue of the interface being able tobe used from the computer to call up a search engine which is stored inthe automation installation and which can be used to select theinformation about the automation installation which is available in theautomation installation on the basis of at least one criterion, with thecriterion for the automation installation being able to be prescribed inthe form of an alphanumeric character string using the computer.

[0009] This therefore allows the user to make appropriate inputs inorder first to find out the information available in the automationinstallation as required and then to examine it if appropriate.

[0010] If the interface can also be used to call up at least oneconnection list, hierarchically graduated access to individualinformation can easily be implemented. In this case, the connectionlist(s) preferably include(s) non-installation-specific operatingfunctions, installation-specific operating functions and/orinstallation-specific details other than operating functions.

[0011] If the interface can also be used to call up a help function,even users who are not generally familiar with the automationinstallation or automation installations in question can quicklycommunicate with the automation installation on a specific basis in asimple and secure manner.

[0012] If the interface can also be used to call up an e-mail function,it is a simple matter to send an e-mail to another person coupled to theautomation installation.

[0013] If the computer can also use the interface to store a message inthe automation installation, which message can be retrieved via theinterface by the computer or by another computer coupled to theautomation installation during subsequent access to the automationinstallation, a message can be left for another user even without ane-mail function. In this context, depending on the message, retrieval ofthe message can be access-protected or not.

[0014] If the message is automatically erased by the automationinstallation after a storage time has elapsed, the storer or theretriever of the message does not need to be concerned with erasing themessage.

[0015] If access to the automation installation by the computer ispassword-protected, this prevents unauthorized persons from gaining readand/or write access to the automation installation. In this case, accesscan be subject to graduated enabling. Thus, by way of example, a largesection of users can be provided with read access, whereas only a smallsection of the users are also provided with write access, and alteringparticularly important data is reserved only for particularly privilegedusers. This can be implemented, if appropriate, using a username/password combination customary on computers.

[0016] If the automation installation can store messages about states ofa technical installation controlled by the automation installation inthe automation installation such that the computer can retrieve them viathe interface, the information available in the automation installationalways reflects the current state of the technical installation.

[0017] For standardization reasons, the interface is preferably in theform of an interface to the worldwide web. In particular, the searchengine and possibly also the other functions which can be retrieved viathe interface is/are integrated in a web portal which, so to speak, isthe home page of the automation installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] These and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent and more readily appreciated from thefollowing description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings of which:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system,

[0020]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a web portal, and

[0021] FIGS. 3 to 8 are basic illustrations of various functions whichcan be called up using the web portal illustrated in FIG. 2

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodimentsof the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout.

[0023] In line with FIG. 1, an automation installation 1 is connected tothe worldwide web 3—shown in highly schematic form—via an interface 2.The worldwide web 3 also has a computer 4 connected to it which a user 5can use to access the worldwide web 3. The computer 4 is thus coupled tothe automation installation 1 via the worldwide web 3. Via the interface2, it is therefore possible to use the computer 4 to retrieveinformation from the automation installation 1 and to transmit messages,information and/or data to the automation installation 1.

[0024] Internally, the automation installation 1 has a processor unit 6whose manner of operation is determined by a computer program product 7stored in a read only memory 8, particularly in an electrically erasableread only memory (EEPROM) 8. The way in which the processor unit 6 workswill be explained in more detail at a later point.

[0025] The automation installation 1 also has input/output units 9 whichare used to control and supervise a technical installation 10. To thisend, inter alia, a map of the input and output states of theinput/output units 9 (process map) is stored in a process map memory 11.A configuration memory 12 also stores information about the installationconfiguration and concordance information.

[0026] The installation information makes it possible to produce a blockdiagram of the automation installation 1 and/or of the technicalinstallation 10. The concordance information makes it possible toascertain to which technological unit the individual storage locationsprovided for the process map in the process map memory 11 correspond. Ifappropriate, this association can also be made beforehand, which meansthat it can be ascertained more quickly and can be output via theinterface 2 if appropriate. The installation information and theconcordance information together form the information about theautomation installation 1.

[0027] Finally, the automation installation has another interface memory13. The interface memory 13 stores messages, user names, passwords andthe like. This is explained in more detail below.

[0028] Via the interface 2, it is possible to use the computer 4 to callup a web portal 14 which is shown in detail in FIG. 2. The web portal 14is, so to speak, the home page of the automation installation 1. It isstored in the automation installation 1 as part of the computer programproduct 7. All the functions 15 to 23 described below are integrated inthe web portal 14. They are thus likewise stored in the automationinstallation 1.

[0029] The web portal 14 itself can be called up by any user 5 via theinterface 2. To be able to call up functions 15 to 22 shown in the webportal 14, however, an identity check first takes place. To this end,the automation installation 1 uses an identity check block 23 to requesta user name and a password. Only if the entered password has beenrecorded for the entered user name is access to the functions 15 to 22enabled. Access to the automation installation 1 by the computer 4 isthus password-protected.

[0030] In principle, it is sufficient to protect access to theautomation installation 1 by the computer 4 using one grade. Ifappropriate, access can alternatively be enabled on a graduated basis.Thus, by way of example, pure read access can be enabled for a largenumber of users, whereas additional write access is enabled only for asection of the users 5 and alteration of particularly importantfunctionalities is enabled only for a few particularly privileged users5.

[0031] The individual functions 15 to 22 which can be called up from theweb portal 14—provided that there is access authorization—are nowdescribed below. These are connection lists 15-18, a search engine 19, amessage function 20, an e-mail function 21 and a help function 22.

[0032] The computer 4 can be used to prescribe criteria for the searchengine 19 in the form of alphanumeric character strings, which criteriacan be taken as a basis for selecting the information about theautomation installation 1 which is available in the automationinstallation 1. By way of example, the search engine 19 shown in FIG. 3can have the “valve” criterion prescribed for it. In this case, thesearch engine 19 lists all valves, their states and their function. Byclicking on one of the hits ascertained in this manner, furtherinformation about this valve can then be retrieved from the automationinstallation 1.

[0033] In this case, the “valve” criterion above is obviously just oneexample. It would also be possible to enter other criteria, e.g. thecriterion “open” for listing all open valves or “block 1” for listingall the information about “block 1”, for the elements contained therein(servomotors, valves, sensors, etc.). This allows very flexiblesearching and/or examination of the automation installation 1 or of itsconfiguration and states.

[0034] The link lists 15 to 18 can alternatively be used to retrievenon-installation-specific operating functions as shown in FIG. 4,installation-specific operating functions as shown in FIG. 5,installation-specific details other than operating functions as shown inFIG. 6, or current information. Clicking on one of the fields 15 to 18branches to the respective link list.

[0035] The link list 15 for non-installation-specific operatingfunctions includes, in line with FIG. 4, a diagnostic function 24 and amodule test 25, for example.

[0036] In line with FIG. 5, the installation-specific operatingfunctions include an installation block diagram 26, for example, withthe current states of the technical installation 10 being able to beopened in the installation block diagram 26. To show the installationblock diagram 26, the process map is thus also used. The messages storedin the automation installation 1 about states of the technicalinstallation 10 (process map) can thus likewise be retrieved by thecomputer 4.

[0037] If appropriate, parts of the technical installation 10 can alsobe shown and mapped. Even individual values from individual sensors canbe specifically picked out. The information about the automationinstallation 1 which is stored in the automation installation 1 and canbe retrieved by the computer 4 via the interface 2 thus includes, inparticular, the details about the installation configuration and theprocess map. If appropriate, other details, e.g. about service statesand the like, can also be retrieved from the automation installation 1.

[0038] In line with FIG. 6, the installation-specific details other thanoperating functions include, by way of example, Internet/intranetaddresses for the manufacturer, software writer, system maintenanceengineer and so on.

[0039] The current list 18 includes, by way of example, advice of theupdate state or of temporarily occurring problems.

[0040] By clicking on the e-mail function 21, it is possible to call upan inherently known window for creating and sending an e-mail.

[0041] Clicking on the message function 20 retrieves a message window 27shown in FIG. 7 from the automation installation 1. This contains a listof available messages 28. The messages 28 can be called up individuallyin an inherently known manner by clicking on them. In this case, callupmight be access-protected. This is explained in more detail below inconnection with FIG. 8.

[0042] The message window 27 shown in FIG. 7 also has a clickable “newmessage” field 29. Clicking on this field 29 opens a further window 30,which is shown schematically in FIG. 8.

[0043] In line with FIG. 8, the message writer can click on a “for all”field 31 or can enter a user name or user code in order to determinewhether his message 28 is intended for all users 5 of the automationinstallation 1 or just for one particular user 5. In the former case,retrieval of the message 28—among the authorized users 5 of theautomation installation 1—is not access-protected, otherwise it isaccess-protected. This is because, in the latter case, the respectivemessage 28 can be retrieved only by the user 5 who is authorized by theuser name and the password.

[0044] In addition, the user 5 can enter an explicit expiry date into afield 32 or can click on a field 33 for a fixed expiry date (e.g. 14days after the message 28 is stored) in order to select when his message28 is automatically erased again by the automation installation 1. Thisinput thus determines a storage time.

[0045] Finally, the window shown in FIG. 8 also contains a field inwhich the actual message 28 (usually text) can be entered. The enteredmessage 28 is then stored in the automation installation 1 by thecomputer 4 via the interface 4. It can therefore be retrieved by thecomputer 4 or by another computer coupled to the automation installation1 during subsequent access to the automation installation 1.

[0046] The functions 15 to 21, 23 explained above are essentiallyintended for a user 5 who is used to handling the web portal 14. If theuser 5 does not know what details he can enter into what fields,however, the user 5 needs to, may or can also click on the help function22. In this case, he is assisted in the use of the web portal 14 in thegenerally known manner by a help menu.

[0047] The inventive form of automation installation 1 provides a simpleway of operating the automation installation 1 conveniently using thecomputer 4.

[0048] The invention has been described in detail with particularreference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will beunderstood that variations and modifications can be effected within thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. An automation installation having an interface (2) which a computer (4) coupled to the automation installation (1) can use to retrieve information about the automation installation (1) which is available in the automation installation (1), characterized in that the interface (2) can be used from the computer (4) to call up a search engine (19) which is stored in the automation installation (1) and which can be used to select the information about the automation installation (1) which is available in the automation installation (1) on the basis of at least one criterion, with the criterion for the automation installation (1) being able to be prescribed in the form of an alphanumeric character string using the computer (4).
 2. The automation installation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the interface (2) can also be used to call up at least one connection list (15-18).
 3. The automation installation, as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the connection list (15-18) comprises non-installation-specific operating functions, installation-specific operating functions and/or installation-specific details other than operating functions:
 4. The automation installation as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the interface (2) can also be used to call up a help function (22).
 5. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims, characterized in that the interface (2) can also be used to call up an e-mail function (21).
 6. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims, characterized in that the computer (4) can also use the interface (2) to store a message (28) in the automation installation (1), which message can be retrieved via the interface (2) by the computer (4) or by another computer which can be coupled to the automation installation (1) during subsequent access to the automation installation (1).
 7. The automation installation as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that retrieval of the message (28) is access-protected.
 8. The automation installation system as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that retrieval of the message (28) is not access-protected.
 9. The automation installation as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the message (28) is automatically erased by the automation installation (1) after a storage time has elapsed.
 10. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims, characterized in that access to the automation installation (1) by the computer (4) is password-protected.
 11. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims, characterized in that the automation installation (1) can store messages about states of a technical installation (10) controlled by the automation installation (1) in the automation installation (1) such that they can be retrieved by the computer (4) via the interface (2).
 12. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims, characterized in that the interface (2) is in the form of an interface (2) to the worldwide web (3).
 13. The automation installation as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the search engine (19) and possibly other functions (15-18, 20-23) which can be retrieved via the interface (2) is or are integrated in a web portal (14).
 14. A computer program product for programming an automation installation (1) as claimed in one of the above claims. 